Control for positioning floor cleanup devices on mining apparatus



March 16, 1954 BE 2,672,332

D. WIE CONTROL FOR POSITIONING FLOOR CLEANUP DEVICES ON MINING APPARATUS -Fled April '27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 16, 1954 D. WIEBE 2,672,332

CONTROL FOR POSITIONING FLOOR CLEANUP DEVICES ON MINING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1951 vv? L LMRV Los Dv O O 4 O 02 m. n @W 0 6 Z @ze Q l n? 0 a m f m -IKM y HHM a il A n. w. .A w W RQ A N N n QwbnN@ w .A .INPI .W o a y Rm l G A A u o A %& N @9 NO QN M v D o o o o I, l o o o o .ul Ill: o o a e o O .O o o o IWI o c o o Ww .n e o o \\.O A Rb Y A March 16, 1954 D. WlEBE CONTROL FOR Pos1 TIONING FLOOR CLEANUP DEVICES ON MINING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2'?, 1951 hNUMITJ...

[72062220 2Q: ozzad ee.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 D. WIEBE OSITIONING FLOOR CLEANUP DEVICES ON MINING APPARATUS CONTROL FOR P March 1.6, 1954 Filed April 27, 1951 March 16, 1954 W EEE 2,672,332

D. l CONTROL FOR POSITIONING FLOOR CLEANUP DEVICES ON MINING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q "lil/55 s /54' \:r;

A [nigga/1029: .,ogzaid )472636.

229 @mgwwem ZZofazeg.

Patented Mar. 16, 1954 'CONTROL FOR POSITI= UP DEVICES N -M "Donald' Wiebe, "Frralt'l'iklin, Pa.,

ONIN G FLOOR CLEAN- INING APPARATUS assigner "to 'fJ'oy ApplieationApnlf?, 195.1, SerialNo. 223,217

M1.?, Claims.

`My invention relatesto mining apparatus; land more' particularly to the type of mining' apparatus which is known as a Continuous Miner. 'This' type of 'mining apparatus is employed for mining coal 0r other' suitable minerals from a seam'orvein 'without the use of explosives,and for loading out the 'material' removed froml the' seam or' veinl as mining progresses.

Ina preferred embodiment a Continuous'lVIiner may 'include a mobile base, such as a' tractor basa-"adapted to' travel over a' mine floor and carrying" a frame which 'is mountedv forv horizontal swinging movement relative` to Vthe base and having anotherfr'ame slidablyv mounted'on :the swiveled frame forrectilinear movement in radial 'lines-*with 'respect' tothe axis aboutwhicln'the swiveled frame is turnable. The Miner may further Aincludera vertically swingable disintegrating mechanismj extending outwardly from the swiveled'fr'ame fand carried-by the radiallyl slidable framefand" desirably lincluding distir'itegrating'` elements carried vhy endless k'disintegrating chains circulating in-'similar parallel-vertical orbits, and adapte'dito disintegratean upright'lband of'coa-l or other mineral yley sumping; swinging andwi'thdrawall movements;` and by'` adjustments yof the horizontal-ly swingable swiveled frame-then seam or veinlm'ay bedisintegrated-to the desiredfvvid'th. While the disintegra-ting =operation is progress theidisintegrating' mechanism may dischargeto amaterial-receiving conveyor" and` theV mat'erial delivered to 'y this conveyor maybe depositedvby the latterin-a hopper; from which hopper a` suitablyqaterally, anddesi-rably vertically, adjustable deliveryiconveyor mayedeliver the disintegrating materiali toi `a desired point. The` disintegrating apparatus is provided with means 'for swingingit inaiupright planes as .welll 'as advancing and retractingl `it to eiect 1 sumping and --witlidrawal movements.

vThe foregoing is'- but illustrative, and modiiications @are ofVV course possible.

`Itisimportantthat there beprovided asia part of' thev Miner means for collecting and effecting the-discharge of disintegrated material 'thatmay fall to the fminevfloor. Asub'stantialquantity of disintegrated material 'escapes to 'the` mine n-o'or during' the vdisintegrating operation, 'and "'iire hazard; dust explosionY hazard, the greaterdimcultylin setting mine timbers; the `loss 'inactual net tonnage ofi` mineral produced, the increased difllculty in maneuvering the Vapparatus and maintainingthe -desired doorv 'and` 'roof levels; and theincreased icostof rock'dusting are' all factors thatfmakeV74 eifec'tive --clean-up important.

An object ofthe presentinvfention 'isto provide an improvedfloor clean-upv mechanism. Another Object of the invention Vis' to provide an Evimproved mining apparatus having improvedoor clean-mp mechanism associated with it. Yet another object is to provideimproved floor' clean-upmech'anism fora continuous' mining apparatus'A 'having lini-- proved' means for accomplishing 'the elicac'ious operation thereof. A"further objecteis'toprovide an improved floor clean-up' lsystem for y-a continuous" miningV apparatus, whi'chincludes iis'- integrating apparatus and meansv 'for *successively causing said disintegratingapparatus ltweltect sumping and' shearing operations; whichclean-up system includes clean-up devicesymeans for advancingthem'with the disintegrating apparatus during sumping, normally A advancing 'them'melative `to the disintegrating apparatus' duringsumping, and,` if they are vnotl fully advanced relative to the disintegrating' apparatusl hyl the* endof 'sumping, automaticallyproviding for further-ad*- vance relative to thedisintegratingeapparatus while the latter is performing a shearingoperation. Otherobjects' anchadvantages1 of the einventi'on' willhere'inafter appear.

In theaccompanying drawings; in-which several illustrative" embodiments of the invention/'are shown:

' Fig.l risa-plan viewL and Figy2 -is a sideeleva- 'tional view of the forward portionfofa 'Continuous 'Miner in which' 'the' several`i1lustrativeem bod'iments'of the invention may be incorporated'.

F'igi 3`isA an" enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view on vthe'planeof :the line 3-*3 oflfg;l 1.

^ Fig-4 is; anlenlarged: transverse "vertical-"view on the plane of the linee 4-4 of"Fig.'3.

Figy is a horizontal sectional viewfshowing detailsof the sumping 'and'A withdrawing mechanism,"parts being broken away` and the'view belingtaken on' the-plane of thef1ine'5-5` of Fig14, buton a'different scale.

Fig; 6 lis an enlargedvertical' transverse' section on theplane of the'line' 6-Sof`FigI 1.

i Fig." 7 "is asecti'on onV a reduced 's'cale"on""the plane "of the'line' T-l of Fig. 3 showingthe front end of the forward material-receivingconveyor and the clean-up"v devices perv se. the latter" being shown 'in their' most forwardlyswuhg position.

Fig." 8"is aview' similar 'to Fig; 7,' but4 showing the" cleanup devices inrelatively retracted" posin tion.

` Fig'. 9 is atransverse' sectional view on thef'plane ofthe section line 9 9 of'Fig'. 3, with partsin'f'ull. Y Fig.f10 is a diagrammatic viewshowingportions of thehydraulic 'control system of a"Continuous Miner in which one form of my improved control means is incorporated, only those portions which are of principal interest to the present invention being illustrated in any detail, and parts being broken away to show features of construction.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section on the plane of the line l l--i l of Fig. 1D.

Figs 12 and 13 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing an automatically controlled valve element in two different positions.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing portions ci the hydraulic control system of a Continuous Miner in which another form of my improved control means is incorporated.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged central section through` another form of control valve mechanism.

Figs. 16 and 17 are similar sections, showing the elements of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 15 in different positions.

Fig. 18 is a transverse section on the plane of the line |8-I8 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional View showing a slightly diiferent control valve arrangement.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing portions of the hydraulic control system of a Continuous Miner in which another form of my improved control means is incorporated.

Figs. 21 and 22 are enlarged central sectional views through the control valve illustrated in Fig. 20, these views showing the unitary automatically controlled valve element in two different positions.

It is necessary to describe a certain amount of structure which is not per se original with me in order that the invention may be understood and its setting and arrangement explained.

The mining apparatus within which the invention is incorporated is in many particulars similar to the one disclosed in the John D. Russell application ior Continuous Mining Apparatus, Serial No. 139,631, led January 20, 1950. It includes a mobile support or base l having a frame 2, which has swiveled upon it, to swing about an upright axis at 3, a horizontal supporting frame or turntable 4. This turntable has a horizontal portion 5 projecting forwardly in advance of the base i, and guided on this horizontal frame portion for movement rectilinearly thereon in a radially extending path is a sliding frame or support 6 on which a swingable frame or bar structure 'l is pivotally mounted on a horizontal transverse axis at to swing vertical planes with respect to the sliding frame. The bar structure 'l, of course, also swings horizontally with the swiveled supporting frame or turntable 4 relative to the base l. The vertically swingable frame or bar structure 'i extends forwardly in advance of the swiveled frame 4 and its pivotal axis 8 is located, when the sliding frame 6 is retracted, a substantial distance in advance of the base. The swingable frame structure l carries a mine vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism generally designated 9 for dislodging and disintegrating the coal or other mineral in relatively wide vertical segments from a solid seam or vein. A front loading conveyor I0 on the sliding frame receives the disintegrated material discharged from the vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 and delivers it rearwardly. The speciiic delivery conveyor structure for receiving material trom the front loading conveyor lo and delivering it to a point at the rear of the machine does not need to be illustrated or described in this application. A full disclosure of a suitable arrangement is contained in the John R. Sibley application, Serial No. 102,996, filed July 3, 1949 and owned by my assignee. The front conveyor lll extends closely adjacent the mine bottom when the Continuous Miner is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and upwardly and rearwardly, and then horizontally rearwardly to a point of discharge to the delivery conveyor structure mentioned a few lines above. Beneath the rearward portion of the vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism il, and associated with the front end of the loading conveyor l0 is an improved clean-up mechanism l5, which will shortly be described more fully.

The vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 includes the bar or frame structure l about which, as shown, there are guided for orbital movement several parallel endless disintegrating chains 2l, each of these being equipped with disintegrating elements 22. The chains are driven by apparatus fully described in other applications of my assignee, including the application of John D. Russell above mentioned, power for the drive of the chains being taken from motors M, M (see Figs. l and 2) through appropriate gearing not shown. The right hand motor also drives through appropriate power take-oli mechanism 25 the front loading conveyor.

The front loading conveyor Ill and the disintegrating mechanism 9 are adapted to be advanced and retracted with the sliding frame 6 with respect to the turntable li by hydraulic feed cylinder and piston mechanisms 3Q (see Figs. 4 and 5), to which iluid may be supplied from a suitable source which is shown only in the diagram of Fig. l0.

r`She disintegrating mechanism S may be swung upwardly about its pivot by upswing-eiiecting mechanism of the hydraulic cylinder and piston operated type. This mechanism forms a portion of the subject matter of the John D. Russell application, Serial No. 139,631, above mentioned, and includes a pair or" single acting hydraulic cylinders 32 having bores 33 and arranged with their axes vertical when the disintegrating mechanism is horizontal (see Fig. 2). The cylinders 32 are secured to the sides of the frame or bar structure l of the disintegrating mechanism. Downwardly extending brackets 35 are secured to the frame structure of the disintegrating mechanism forwardly of the cylinders 32 and carry pivots 3d for rearwardly extending lever elements or reaction members 3l. These lever element-s carry brackets 38 pivotally connected by pins 3 to the lower ends of piston rods lid, which are pivotally connected at 4| to suitably packed pistons ft2 reciprocable in the cylinder bores 33. The rearward ends of the levers 3l have angularly disposed short arms 43 pivotally connected at lili to flexible chains 45, which are secured at their other ends as at 45 to the upper portion of the curved iront ends d1 or the sliding frame d, and which are, as it were, draped over the curved frame surfaces as shown in certain oi the iigures. The cylinders 32 have supply and discharge connections i8 `to which iluid is supplied, and from which fluid may be vented, in ways shortly to be explained in connection with the hydraulic diagram of Fig. l0. When fluid is supplied to the cylinders 32 the pistons i2 are forced outwardly in the cylinders. This changes the angle of the levers 3l to the disintegrating mechanism 9 and since the points lll cannot move downwardly, being sustainedby atrasos.

the. chains. 4,5, the pivots 36 must necessarily move. upwardly'and accordinglyupswing of the disintegrating mechanism 9, is, accomplishedv upon. the. admission of fluid-to thev boresI 33' of' the. cylinders 3.2. What,- actually happens .is an up.- ward movement of both the cylinders 32Aand the pistons; with the. cylinders rising more rapidly than the pistons.y and with the pistons 112y higher in the raised position of' the disintegrating` mechanism than in the lowered position: thereof; This. arrangement; is disclosed. in the above men.- tioned applicationA of J ohn. D. Russell.

The front loading conveyortil has. verticalv side plates These at. their rearv ends support casing' elements 52 (Fig. 6). which house bearings .53 in which there, are iournaled stub shafts 54 which have squared portions 55 to. the inside ofthe side plates: 5|, and. these are connected by their polygonal. ends with chai-n sprockets 56', which; are adapted to-drive side chains 51- for a purpose laterto b e described; The side chain driving sprockets 56. have; coaxialsleeve portions 5.9 on each of which. there isy secured a sleeve member SU, andthe aligned sleeve members BD at their ends.L adjacent to eachother surround and are secured to tubular hub. portions 6| of a conveyor chain driving sprockets62. This cooperates with and drives the center flight conveyor chain 6.3 of the front loading conveyor I0. Referring to Fig. 6, itwill be noted v'that one of the shafts 5,4` has an extension Sil-to which there is secured at 65 a. Worm wheel 6B, with which a worm 61, mounted in a housing B8 and rotated by the transmission. mechanism 25 previously described, engages. It, willbe understood, accordingly, that the'transmission 25 drives the conveyor chain 63 of the front loading conveyor |D and also drives the pair of drive chains 51,.shortly fiuther to be described.

The front loading conveyor has a pivoted front end 10, and the side plates 5| have openings l2 (Fig. 9) in which there. are received pivot sleeves 1:3; which. are fixed to the vertical plates 5i'. These pivot sleeves 13 are surrounded by openings 14 formed in vertical plate portions 'l5 which form side elements of the pivoted front end 1|). These plates 15 have disposed inwardly of them, that is toward the center of the yconveyor, parallel plate portions 16. The plate portions 15 and 'I6 have openings 17 in whichbear'- ing' portions 18 formed on sleevelike portions.l 19 of castings 80 are rotatably received. A split clamp 8| disposed between the plate portions 'l5 and" 16 and surroundingy the bearingportions ofv the castings 80' holdsl the castings-one at either side-in position with respect to the pivoted front end 10 of the front conveyor. The sleeve portions 19 support bearings 82, in which stub shafts 83' are journaled, and these stub shafts have mounted on their mutually adjacent squared ends sleeves 84, which support an idler roller 85, about which the front end of the conveyor chain 631s guided. The side plates 5| are connected by a. conveyor deck plate 85 and underlying return deck' plates 81. The pivoted front end l0 of the front loading conveyor has a deck plate 88 which constitutes an extension of the. deck plate 86. The castings 80 are rockable about the axis of the idler roller 85. The pivoted front end 'I0 and the. parts which it supports may be. raised and. lowered at its front end about the pivots provided. at 74. An elevating cylinder 89, supported at 90 beneath the return deck` plate 8l andE pivotally connected at 9| to the pivoted front end l0. may effect the raising and permit i about the pivotal mountings 1T,

"6 the` lowering mentioned, plained.

The pivoted front; end' T0 is-'dished ais-92 so that.. the forward run of the conveyor chain 63 vwill be partially housed atits bottom end, and suitably beveled surfaces 937 94 andi 95 (see liigsfl and8')' are provided at the front end mi 'and adaptedto rest on the mine` floor to guide cuttings or otherA loose; disintegrated material on the floortot-he conveyor.

At. the inner side ofV the forward end of the conveyor te' there are arranged gathering or clean-upJ devices. These are driven by the side chains 51T, which drive, sprockets, |60: (Figs. '3. and 9.,). iixedly secured to transversely extending shafts. |.|l.'| j'ournaled' at'. |102, |02" in. sleeve members 16.31 adjustahly secured to the sidel plates 5|. to permit chain tension. adjustment. The shafts. ISM. drive, through Rze'ppa universal drive connections. |04, telescopic splinedf drive sl'lafts |65. other Rzeppa universal connectionsy |08', andy gearing, not shown, but fully illustrated in said` Russell application and. enclosed in gear nous--` ings |10 carried at the outer ends.l of clean-up scroll housings clean-up scrolls shortly to be described. Generally semi-cylindrical, pickup plates H3 are pivotally connected as at |s|4 by multiple hinge connections |I5. to lugs lflzon the castings 30. The arrangement is such.. not-f ing that the pivotal connections. are soV formed' asl to provide acertain amount' of free play.. that; the clean-up devices may swing forwardly-andi` backwardly about generally upright. axes Aand vthat the upright. axes mentioned are turnable about as hereinaftery ex# A horizontal axes to a limited degree by reason of the fact that. the castings. are pivotally mounted at. 'I8 as. previously explained; "The: clean-up devices may have `universal pivotal' connectionsof any desi-red form with thel castings 88, to obtain the desiredl` pivotal movement.

Each conveyor scroll arrangement includes a. rotatable scroll or spirall conveyor in the form of a helix |28. The details of the, supportl and' drive of these scrolls needr not be. here described as they are fully explained' in said Russell' ap.-` plication. It. will suiiice to. say that the scrolls are rotated in: a direction to cause them to move; material towards said surfaces. 93; 94, 95and that the scrolls or spiral conveyors1 cany swing back-- ward and forward about an upright axisand can turn-though only to a limited degree as will shortly be explained-about a. horizontal trans-v verse axis. The conveyor-scrolls have` their pick. up plates H3. prevented from undue turning 18, by links |43" pivotally4 connected to brackets secured to the vertical side plates 5| as illustratedin said Rus-- sell application, and as atA |42 to the extreme. rearward endsof the castings 89.

The. gathering or clean-up devices can be.. swung in' and out by double acting hydraulic cylinder and piston mechanisms |150. Thesefin-y clude cylinders |51 pivotally connected at |52vk tol lugs |53 on the castings 80 and having pistonsl |515 provided with piston rods |55 pivota1lyconnected at |56 to the pick-#up plates 3. Flui'dv maybe admitted to the opposite ends of the bores" |57 of the cylinders |5| to eflect inward andoutward swinging of the clean-up devices.

The gathering or clean-up devices are so supported that they will be advanced during sumping of the disintegrating mechanism 9 and re-` tracted during the withdrawal of the disintegrating mechanism. It. is desirable thaty they'y shouldradvanceangularly into the posi-tionvthere of shown in Fig. '7 before sumping of the disintegrating mechanism commences and accordingly means is provided for opening a fluid supply connection to them simultaneously with the supply of fluid to the sumping and withdrawal cylinder and piston mechanisms 30. Then, if the resistance to advance of the clean-up devices is such that it requires a lower fluid pressure to eect their advance than is required to sump the disintegrating mechanism, there will be an ad- Vance of the clean-up devices before sumping takes place, and in like manner rearward swing of the clean-up devices may provide withdrawal movement of the disintegrating mechanism.

Before going further it may be noted that the cylinder and piston mechanisms 3o are differently constructed. Each includes a cylinder |60 having a bore HSI, and there are pistons |6213 and |52R recip-rocable in the bores. To distinguish them, some further parts of the lefthand (looking forwardly) mechanism 3l] will be identified by an L while the righthand ones will be identified by an R. The piston IGEL has a piston rod |641 extending forwardly from it and connected to the reciprocable frame 6, and the piston IBZR has a piston rod IMR extending forwardly from it and also connected to the reciprocable frame. The piston rod IllL has a passage it extending from a point |65 ahead of its associated pistn IZL to a point |61 which is never withdrawn into the cylinder even in the most retracted position of the piston will, and which has communication with a conduit I'll. On the other hand, a passage Ill extends from the rear side of the piston |621?. through the latter and through the piston rod Uitl?, to a point H2 which is never withdrawn into the cylinder even in the rearrnost position of the piston iR, and which, at |12, communicates with a conduit IM. Attention may now be directed to Figure l0, in which the cylinder and piston devices for effecting sumping and withdrawing are shown at 3i), the cylinder and piston devices for effecting upswing and lowering of the distintegrating mechanism are shown at 32, e2, and the cylinder and piston devices for angularly advancing and retracting the clean-up device are shown at |55. There will be observed in the lower part of Figure 1G, a multiple-unit valve box structure |853. This includes a fluid supply and pressure relief valve unit I8|, a discharge unit |82, a control unit |83 for controlling the supply of fluid to, and the venting of fluid from, the cylinder and piston devices 32, e2, a control valve unit i345 for controlling the supply and venting of fluid relative to the sumping and withdrawing devices Si! and the clean-up swinging cylinder and piston devices Iii, and a plurality of individually unnumbered units which control other functions of the mining apparatus but which do not in detail cnter into the present invention and which therefore need no description. A hydraulic iluid is supplied from a reservoir lilii through a conduit lill to a pump |88, driven in any suitable manner from one of the motors of the Miner and discharging to a conduit 89, which leads to a chamber IBB inA the unit ISI. When the relief valve lSi oontained in the unit Ill! opens, fluid may flow from the chamber |90 through the discharge passage |93 which extends successively through the several valve units to the box |82 and thence by a conduit i535 back to the tank: |86. Passage arrangements !91 of well known construction are formed in the various control valve units, and so arranged that when the valve associated with any control 'valve unit is' moved to effect fluid supply, the passage |91 in that unit is closed, but when all of the valves in the control units are in neutral position there is a free flow-through of fluid from the chamber t0 the return conduit The unit |83 contains a valve 20D controllable in any suitable manner and adapted, when moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. l0 to effect fluid supply to a groove 20| which is connected with a conduit 292, and which valve, when moved downwardly from the position shown in Figure 10, connects the conduit 202 with the associated discharge passage |S3. The conduit 202 terminates in branches 204, 204, which lead to the bores 33 of the cylinders 32 above the pistons 42 in the latter.

The unit |8ll contains a multiple-spool valve element 2| which is adapted when in the position shown in Figures 1I) and l1, to effect a supply of fluid to a groove 212 and the venting of iiuid from a groove 253, while downward movement from the position shown in Figure 10 to an opposite exterior position will effect fluid supply to the groove 2id and venting of fluid from the groove 2|2. I1; will he noted that this valve unit has spaced fluid supply grooves, one, 214, a part or" the supply passage arrangement |91 and the other a connected fluid supply groove 2|5 (see Fig. 1l). The groove 2|?. has connected with it a conduit 255 while the groove 2|3 has connected with it a conduit 2H. ConduitI 2I6 is connected by branches 2|9, 2li! to the rearward ends of the bores it! of the cylinder and piston devices Sli. Conduit 2 i 1 is connected by branches '223 to the forward ends of the bores ISI. it will he noted that fluid supplied through the conduit l and one of the branches 2l9 will not only act upon the piston i62R, but will also pass to the conduit |14. .In like manner, fluid supplied through conduit 2|1 and one of the branches 22d will not only act in a retraction-effecting direction upon the piston |52L, but will pass to the conduit |18. Conduit |13 is connected by branches 222, 22 to the ends of the cylinder` and piston devices |55 wherein it acts to effect scroll retraction. Conduit Illl is connected by branches 226i, 22A to the ends of the cylinder and piston devices |50 which are supplied with iiuid to effeet swinging 0f the clean-up devices from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 7.

et this point the description may be discontinued, and the modes of operation which would be accomplished were no other structure provided may be noted: It will be evident that if the valve element 2li@ is manipulated to allow the venting of from the conduit 2&2, the disintegrating mechanism Si may be lowered to door level and then held at that level by returning the valve E95 to the position shown in Figure 10. The valve 2i I, previously centered, could then be moved to the position shown in Figure 10 and elect fluid supply to the conduit 2 it and venting of fluid from the conduit 2 l. Then, if the scrolls could be moved forwardly with a lower fluid pres-l sure in the cylinder and piston devices |53 than would be required in the cylinder and piston devices to effect the sumping operation of thev disintegrating apparatus, the scrolls would be moved promptly from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. '7 and thereafter the cylinder and piston devices 39 would effect sumping of the distintegrating apparatus 9. The

valve 200 of the unit |83 would then be moved' -9 to supply fluid to the conduit 202, and this iiuid, acting in the cylinders 32 would effect upswing of` the distintegrating apparatus 9. The movement of the valve 200 yas described would interrupt communication between the supply groove 2|4 and the supply chamber |90. This would mean no more nuid could be delivered lto the branches 224, 22d to edect further forward swing of the clean-up devices. When the desired limit of upswing was attained, the valve 202 would be returned to the position shown in Fig. 10, and the disintegrating mechanism would'be locked in its raised position. Fluidrwould then be supplied, by downward shifting of the valve 2H, to the conduit 2|?, and this fluid would, if rearward swinging (swinging from the position of Figure 7 to the position of Figure 8) of the clean-up devices could be accompanied with lower pressure than that needed to effect withdrawal, would cause the clean-up device to swing back before withdrawal took place, and withdrawal would thereafter be inmediately eected.

Withthe arrangement so far described it will be 'evident that if, for some reason, the clean-up devices did not attain to the position of Fig. 7

before sumping was completed, and the valve 2|i0 was shifted to effect upswing of the disintegrating apparatus, complete advance of the clean-up devices will not be effected.

My invention provides a further opportunity for the completion of the advancing movement of the clean-up ydevice yfrom the position of Figure 8 to the position of Figure 7. This it does by providing 'for the continued supply of uid to the cylinder and 'piston devices |50 during upswing of Athe disintegrating apparatus. Several novel arrangements by which this may be accomplished without vundesirable concomitants will now bedescribed, and the rst of these is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13, both inclusive.

It will be observed, noting now particularly Figs. 10, 12 and 13, that I have provided a shuttle valve device 230 including the casing '23| having lextending llongitudinally thereof a larger bore 232 and a communicating Icoaxial smaller bore i:

233. An annular stop shoulder and seat 234 is formed at the end of the bore 232 remote from the bore 233, and this shoulder surrounds apassage '235 of smaller diameter `tha-n the bore 232.

With this passage a conduit 23B communicates.

Its connections will shortly be described. An annular shoulder or seat i238 is arranged at the junction 'of the bores 232 'and 1233, The bore 233 is connected with 'a vconduit 239, whose rconnections will shortly be described. A lateral passage f 240 opens `into the larger bore v23.". `approximately midway between its ends, as shown. This has a conduit 24| communicating with it, andthe latter is connected to one of 'the branch conduits 224. A valve element 245, including a portion 246 of larger diameter land a connected portion .241 of smaller diameter, is arranged within the bores 232 and 233', the portion 246 being a close .sliding fit for yth'ebcre 232 and the portion 241 a close sliding `ilt for the bore A:233. The valve element 245 yhas a conical `end 249 remote from its smaller portion 241, and this end is adapted to lseat upon the "shoulder vor seat 234, which is correspondingly fuiste-conically formed. A frusto-'conical 'shoulder 250 is formed at the junction lof the valve portions 246 and v241, and annular shoulder 238 is made frusto-conical to provide a seat for the shoulder 250. The valve 245 is traversed by an L--Jshaped passage, including a portion S252 openinigfthrou'gh the 'side "of thelarger portion-246 "at 253. The other portion, y255, of the L-shaped passage extends axially of the valve and opens through the end of the reduced portion 241 at 256. In order that rotation of the valve on its axis may not interfere with its functioning, there is provided an annular groove 258 in communication with the passage 240.

The conduit 236 connects with one of the branches 222. The conduit 239 is provided with a check valve 260, and is connected at its end away from the valve device 230 with the conduit 202. The valve 260 permits fluid to pass through the conduit 239 from conduit 202 towards the valve device 230, but prevents its opposite flow. The conduit 24| opens into one of the branches 224.

The space in the larger bore 23'2 yat the end of the latter nearer the smaller bore 233 will desirably have a bleed 262, and this may advan-Y tageously be connected by conduit means (not shown) with the tank l 26, if there is any material leakage.

Now the operation of the apparatus, with the valve of Figs. 12 and 13 incorporated in it as shown in Fig. 10, may be briey described. When fluid is being supplied to effect sumping of the disintegrating apparatus 9, the valve 245 will normally occupy the position shown in Fig. 12. If it did not initially fully do so, it would be promptly moved to this position, because fluid moving through the L-shaped passages 252, 255 could 'not escape past the check valve 260, and as any space above the valve 245 would be vented, during sumping, to the tank |06, the valve 245 would be moved to the position mentioned by the pressure which would pass to the lower end of the smaller portion "241. In either event it will be evident that no fluid could pass from the yconduit |14, one of the branches 224, and the conduit 24| in any substantial amount. Therefore, when the valve 2 l I is in the position of Figs. 1'0 and 11, fluid will be supplied through conduit ZIB and the branches 2|!) to the cylinder and piston mechanisms 30, and effect sumping vof the disintegrating apparatus, and some of this fluid will Apass through the passage I'H and conduit |74 and branches 224 to effect outward and forward swing of the clean-up devices. Meanwhile, the forward ends of the cylinder and piston devices 30 and the other ends of the cylinder and piston devices l 50 would be vented to the tank |86 through the conduit 2H. If the 'resistance to forward movement of the clean-up devices 'is not too great, they will make their vfull shift from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. '7 before sumping starts, or at least before sumping is completed. But if they do not, for any reason, complete their movement from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. '7, before sumping is completed, the operator can simply maintain the valve 2| I in the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and move the valve 20|) to supply fluid to the yconduit 202. Most of the fluid supplied through the conduit 202 will `pass into the cylinder bores 33 `and effect upswing of the disintegrating apparatus, but a portion of this fluid will pass into the conduit 239 and, 'having opened the check valve 260, will be delivered into the bore 233, and, passing through the passage Iin the valve 245, will .be delivered to the passage 240 and through the conduit '24| to one of the branches 224, and from that branch to the other branch 224, and thus there will be `a continued application of force to the lpistons |54, to effect 'forward swing of the clean-up devices, during npswing of-the 'disintegrating mechanism.

With the valve 2 held as specified, none of the fluid attaining to conduit 22| can escape through the conduit |14, passage IH, communicating branch 2|9, and conduit 2|5. It will also be noted that the ends oi the cylinder and piston devices |50 which are connected by the branches 222 Will continue to be connected with the tank |96. Thus, every opportunity will be provided, during upswing of the dis-integrating mechanism, for the clean-up devices to make their full movement from the position of Fig. 7, if they have not previously made it.

At the end of upswing of the disintegrating mechanism the valve 220 will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 10, shutting oir supply of iiuid to the conduit 222 and trapping iiuid in the cylinder bores 33. The valve 2|! will then be moved to its opposite position and will supply fluid to the conduit 2 H while venting the conduit 2|6. Fluid supplied to the conduit 2H will be delivered to the retracting end of the cylinder and piston devices 39 and |50, while the other ends of the cylinder and piston devices 30 and |50 are connected to the tank. The clean-up devices may be swung backward before withdrawal takes place or during a withdrawal, depending upon the relative resistances to movement. Because the pressure acting in the branches 222 Will act through the conduit 23e on the materially larger end 229 of the valve 245, the valve will be forced to its position shown in Fig. 13, and accordingly the fluid within the conduit 202 cannot be vented through the conduit 24|, the conduit |74, etc.

At the end of retraction of the disintegrating mechanism, the valve 2H may be moved to its neutral position and the valve 299 moved to vent uid through the conduit 202 from the cylinder bore 33 to permit downswing of the disintegrating mechanism. Under these circumstances the valve 245 will remain in the position of Fig. 13, notwithstanding pressure in the conduit 239, because fluid above the upper end of the valve cannot escape, since the valve 2|! closes conduit 236.

When the valve 299 is returned to neutral position (when the disintegrating mechanism is lowered as far as desired), there will either be a pressure in the conduit 202, or one will be produced there the instant the disintegrating mechanism starts to cut a clearance, and thus the valve 245 will normally be moved to the position of Fig. 12 by the time sumping is commenced.

To summarize, it may be stated that the valve mechanism 230 makes possible the application of a continued force, tending to swing the scrolls to their position of Fig. '7, throughout upswing of the disintegrating apparatus, as well as during sumping movement of this mechanism. It is necessary to maintain the valve 2H in its sumping-eecting position during upswing of the disintegrating mechanism in order for continued forward movement of the scrolls from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. '7 to take place during upswing, for only thus is venting of the piston rod ends of the cylinder and piston devices |52 possibie. The check valve 289 guards, during sumping, against flow of pressure fluid into the shear cylinders from the lines supplied With pressure during sumping.

Now turning to Figs. 14 to 18 it will be observed that I have omitted the check valve 252 in the conduit 239 and provided a modied form of valve mechanism 21| which performs the functions of the check valve 269 and of the shuttle valve device 230. Some parts are not shown in detail in Fig. 14, as they are fully shown in corresponding parts of Fig. 10; and like numbers are used in Fig. 14 in cases where corresponding parts appear in Fig. 10. It may be noted that, in view of the absence of the check valve 262, the conduit which otherwise corresponds to the conduit 239 of l0 is designated 239' in Fig. le.

The valve mechanism 21| includes a casing 27 5 having a cylindrical bore 216 provided with a transverse shoulder 21T at one end surrounding a connection at 27B for the conduit 23B. The other end of the bore 276 terminates in an annular valve seat 266 surrounding a passage 28| with which the conduit 239' communicates. As shown, substantially midway between the ends of the casing 215, there is a connection 293 for the conduit 22|. This connection communicates with an internal groove 28d. Within the bore 21S and adapted to cooperate with the seat 280, there is a check valve element 285 having an annular seating surface 281i adapted to cooperate with the seat 280 and traversed by a series of longitudinally extending peripheral grooves 287. Accordingly, when the valve 295 is unseated, there is established communication between the conduit 239 and the conduit 22 i A spring loaded plunger 239 is received in the bore 21B above the check valve element 285, and it has a projection 29| of reduced diameter which is adapted to engage an end surface 292 on the check valve 285, under certain conditions. The length of the plunger is such that under no conditions can the communication of the connection 283 with the bore 216 be interrupted. A spring 293 is enclosed within the bore 216 and engages a transverse surface 294 on the follower member 290, and also engages the annular shoulder 271. When there is no pressure in any of the conduits 236, 239 and 24|, the check valve element 285 and the plunger 298 occupy the position shown in Fig. 17. When there is pressure in the conduit 24| tending to cause iiuid ilow toward the conduit 239', the parts occupy the position or" Fig. 15. When there is, in the conduit 239', pressure which must pass to the conduit 212i and eect complete extension or forward movement of the scrolls, the position of the parts may be as shown in Fig. 16.

The operation of the apparatus of Figs. 14 to 1S inclusive is as follows:

When luid is being supplied to eieet sumping of the disintegrating apparatus 9 the position of the parts of the device 215 will be that shown in Fig. 15. This will be understood when it is borne in mind that at this time the conduit 236 is Vented to the tank |86 and the valve 285 will have been moved to the position shown in Fig. 15, as soon as the pressure in the conduit 24| exceeded the pressure in the conduit 239'. Accordingly, none of the fluid supplied to effect forward swing of the clean-up devices during sumping will act in the cylinder bores 33 to raise the disintegrating apparatus.

At the'end of sumping, there will be a. shift of the valve 222 to supply fluid to the elevating cylinder and piston devices 32, 42, while the sump controlling valve 2 remains in its sump-eiecting position. Thus fluid supplied to the conduit 282 will flow to the cylinder and piston devices 32, 42, and also, in part, to the conduit 239', and this duid will then pass the check valve 285 and pass to the conduit 22| and continue the forward swinging action of the clean-up devices, and thus every opportunity will be provided, during upswing oi the dstintegrating mechanism, for the I3 clean-up- .'devices to. `make their full. potential movement to.t vthe position. of Fig.. 7 Jif. vthey :have notapreviously-.made it.

At the -end of up'swing of the disintegrating mechanism'therva'lve 200 will be returned to the positionshown in Fig. 10, shutting. oli lsupply of fluid vto-conduit 232. and'trapping fluid'inthe cyl* nder bores 33. The valve 2| I will thenbe moved to.A supply fluid .to the conduit .211 land vent the conduit 2:I-E. The fluid .supplied 'to thel conduit 2 |'I will in :part ultimately passte the conduit |10.' and to the retracting` ends of the cylinder-.andi pistonY devices |50. Whether or not the :clean-up devices will swing. back before, 4during orv after retraction of the disintegrating apparatus'. will depend upon the resistances to movement .involved. Because the vpressureacting throughrthe conduit '236 on the end of the plunger 290 will exceed any pressure tending to unseat check valve 285, :and because, moreover, ofv the force exerted by the lspring 293, the parts will move to thepositionrshown inaFig. '17, and accordinglythe uid. within the conduit 202 will not be vented.' through yconduit 239', the .conduit 24|, the con-- duit |14, etc. It will be understood that the. presen-t embodiment -of the invention will func-g tion essentially, so farl as controls accomplished are concerned, .like theziirst form.

'Figure 19 fshows another Iarrangement which could beusedl in place .of the arrangement of Figs.. 15, 16: and I7. The sole difference is that the spring' 293 is arranged. between the plunger BIJv and the check valve .1285. It will be understood. that with respect. to the. valve arrangements ofv Figs. 14 to 1=9, the strength of thesprings 293 andi 293' needfnot be'great.

The modification ofFigs. 20, 21 and `22 needs: even less extended description. Fig. '20 is a diagrammatic View, and, as it is a part of: a systemwhich is identical with that ofv Fig. 14 except'that the conduit 233 has been omitted! and that a. valve mechanism 30|' of dinerent form has been. substituted" for the Valve mechanism 21|, it has been possible to omit a large part ofv what is shown in Fig. 14. The valve mechanism 3'01 includes a casing v3|l3 having a cylinder bore 304% closed at one end, as at 335, except fora vent 306 an'dfor a valve seat 307 atl itsother end surrounding a passage 369 with which the conduit 239' communicates. A checkA valve 31| is 'receivedin the bore 3mi. It' is herein in the form of a cylindrical plug having4 a frusto-conic'al seat 3I2at'its lower-end and having a transverse upper surface 3I3 engaged by a spring ?\I'I of which the other end lrests against the surface 305. When the check Valve is seated by the spring. 3M it. shuts ofl' communication between an annular groove 3 6 formed inthe wall surrounding the bore 304, and the passage 302. The groove 3| 6 is. .connectedbyapassage 3H with the conduitZ'M..

Except when the disintegrating apparatus 9, is resting on a lower motion limiting device, not shown, it will, unless it is being swung upwardly (where the fluid pressure will naturally be higher), exert a certain pressure on the fluid in the bores 33. This pressure obviously varies depending upon the design of the apparatus, but let it be assumed, for example, that it is on the order of a 150 p. s. i. and let it also be assumed that when the valve 3II lifts from its seat there is an increase in area subject to fluid pressure supplied through the conduit 239' of one-third. This will mean that, to move valve 3II from the position shown in Fig. 22 to that shown in Fig. 21,

if the conduits 24| and 239' were both shut on from the'tank, the spring ,SiN-'wouldyhave-to exerta pressure iin. excess of `200-tfto movefthe vail-ve from thel position of Fig. 22 to that of. Fig.. 21. Sound design. principles would :result in making the spring exert a substantially higher `pressure-- one-on .the order of 300 p. s. i. over theareaof the lower end of thevalve when unseated. Now note that when the valve is in the position of Fig.. 22 and fluid is passed from the vconduit 23-9' to the conduit 24|, :there is no material reductionin the pressure in the conduit 24.! from that in thereonduit-239.

The mode of operation may be readily visualized.. It willV be appreciated that the pressure supplied to the conduit 202 to effectthe shearing operation will Aalso in part `act in the cylinder .and piston devices |50 12o-complete the forward and outward swing vofclean-up devices. When. the valve 2&0 is moved to neutral position, the valve 2II will .also be moved -to neutral position, and then there will be `iiuid trapped within the .rear ends of the .bores 33, .the branches 234', the con.-Y duit 282, the conduit 23S', the space beneaththe valvewdevice v3| I, the conduit l24|, branch connections 224 and the space within the cylinders |54., the conduit I'M, the passage I'II, the rear ends of the cylinders |60 and the connecting branches 219 andthe conduit 2 i6. As thefspring 3M exerts pressure which is greater than the product of the cross-sectional area of the valve 3| I rand the ventrappediiuidl mentioned., the valve SII will be moved vfrom the position of Fig..22 to the position of Fig. 2.1, and the valve will maintain that position even during the next .forward sumping operation because there will be nothing towdisplace it. Of course, since the conduit23'6 is omitted in this embodiment of the invention, the spring 31M yprovidestheionly'force for moving the valve 3H from the position of Fig. 22 to that' of Fig. 21, but. that force is lmore than adequatel when such. movement is required, butv yetsuch. as to be readily overcome by the pressure supplied to'eiectfs-hearing.

While there are in this application specifically described several forms which. the invention may assume in. practice, it ywill be understood that these forms. of the saine are'shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be' modified: and embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit or the scope of. the appended claims.

What. I claim and. `desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

.1. In combination, a' frame fidvan'ceable and retractable:withrespectto a mine iioo'r, pressure uid operated mechanism for effecting such movements of .said frame, lvein disintegrating mechanism mounted on said frame forA movements in uprightV planes relative'l thereto, pressure fluid operated mechanism for effecting up-` ward movement of said disintegrating mechanism in said planes, floor clean-up devices supported by said frame and having pressure fluid operated mechanism for advancing and retracting them relative to said frame and to the mine iioor, means for effecting fluid supply and exhaust of iiuid relative to said first mentioned pressure fluid operated mechanism and relative to said third mentioned pressure fluid operated mechanism to effect concurrent advance of said frame and clean-up devices and to eifect concurrent retraction of said frame and of said clean-up devices, said means including, for effecting such retraction, conduit means for supplying uid for effecting retraction and, for effecting advance, other conduit means for supplying nuid to eiect advance means including an operator controllable valve mechanism and a conduit controlled thereby for selectively supplying pressure uid to and venting pressure nuid from said second mentioned pressure fluid operated mechanism, and means, including a valve controlled conduit connecting said last recited conduit with the conduit means for supplying uid to effect advance of said frame and said cleanup devices, for eilecting supply oi fluid to such conduit means from said last recited conduit automatically upon supply of pressure fluid to said second mentioned pressure fluid operated mechanism but precluding flow to the latter through said valve controlled conduit.

2. The combination of claim l, in which the valve controlled conduit has therein a valve movable to flow-permitting position by fluid flowing from the conduit connected with said second mentioned pressure fluid operated means towards the conduit means for supplying iiuid to effect advance.

3. The combination of claim 2, in which the valve movable to flow-permitting position by fluid owing from the conduit connected with the second mentioned pressure fluid operated means towards the conduit means for supplying fluid to effect advance has associated with it means for moving it to now-interrupting position aun tomatically upon cessation of the flow of fluid which moves it to flow-permitting position.

4. The combination of claim 2, in which the valve movable to flow-permitting position by fluid iiowing from the conduit connected with said second mentioned fluid operated means towards the conduit means for supplying fluid to efect advance has a pressure fluid actuated plunger associated with it for moving it to nowinterrupting position under the action of fluid pressure in the conduit means for supplying fluid for effecting retraction.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the valve having associated with it a plunger also has a spring associated with it for biasing it in the same direction said plunger acts.

6. The combination of claim 2, in which the valve movable to flow-permitting position by fluid owing from the conduit connected with the second mentioned pressure fluid operated means towards the conduit means for supplying iiuid to eifect advance has a spring associated with it for moving it to flow-interrupting position automatically upon cessation of the flow of fluid which moves it to flow-permitting position.

7. The combination of claim l, in which the valve controlled conduit has therein a check valve openable toward the conduits to effect advance.

8. The combination of clalml, in which' the valve controlled conduit has a plurality of valves between its ends each openable by uid passing toward said conduit means for supplying duid to effect advance, and one having associated with it means for closing it, subjected to the pressure in the conduit means for supplying fluid for effecting retraction.

9. The combination of claim 1, in which the valve controlled conduit has therein a valve openable by uid supply toward said conduit means for supplying fluid to effect advance, and said valve has associated with it a closing plunger subjected to the pressure in the conduit means for supplying fluid for eiecting retraction and in which said plunger has its movements by said last mentioned pressure spring-opposed.

10. In combination, a frame reciprocable with respect to a mine floor, pressure fluid operated mechanism for effecting such reciprocation, vein disintegrating mechanism mounted on said frame for movement in upright planes relative thereto, pressure duid operated mechanism for effecting upward movement of said disintegrating mechanism in said planes, floor clean-up devices supported by said frame and having means including pressure fluid operated mechanism for advancing and retracting them relative to said frame and to the mine floor, means for eiecting fluid supply and exhaust relative to said iirst mentioned pressure fluid operated mechanism to eilect advance and retraction of said frame, means for effecting fluid supply and exhaust relative to said third mentioned pressure fluid operated mechanism including conduits for supplying fluid to eiect advance and conduits for supplying fluid to efiect retraction of said clean-up devices, means for supplying and venting fluid with respect to said second mentioned pressure fluid operated mechanism including a conduit connected with the latter, and means for automatically supplying duid from said last recited conduit, upon the supply of pressure uid thereto, to the conduits for supplying duid to effect advance of said cleanup devices, but precluding reverse flow including a valve movable by pressure fluid supplied to said last recited conduit.

1l. The combination of claim 10, in which said valve is subjected in opposite directions to pressures which exist respectively in the last recited conduit and in the conduits for supplying fluid to effect retraction of said clean-up device.

12. The combination of claim 10 in which the valve is a check valve.

DONALD WIEBE.

Name Date Joy Nov. 23, 1937 Number 

